Two recent and ongoing efforts have been effective in bringing together industry and environmental groups. The Shale Gas Roundtable of the Institute of Politics at the University of Pittsburgh produced a report with several recommendations for shale gas water use and impacts in Pennsylvania. The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD) was founded to create standards and a certification process for shale gas production in Appalachia. Professor Cohon co-chaired the Roundtable and is chair of the Board of the CSSD. Both activities provide useful lenses through which to view the state of development of shale gas in the region, as well as lessons for working together.

Bio: The former President of Carnegie Mellon University, Professor Cohon also served as chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. In 2014 he was named the Director of CMU’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. Cohen received his PhD in Civil Engineering from MIT. Cohon was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012.

More than 100 Smithsonian scientists are actively engaged in the biodiversity and conservation sciences utilizing a vast network of field sites, laboratories, and living collections to answer scientific questions about the biology of species, ecosystems and landscapes. Dr. Monfort highlighted research aimed at sustaining species and the habitats they require for survival, the importance of partnerships, and the need to build the scientific and technical capacity for solving the most pressing biodiversity challenges of our time.

Bio:Steve Monfort is the Director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Monfort helped to pioneer noninvasive endocrine monitoring techniques that are now widely used for assessing reproductive status and well-being of wildlife species in zoos and in nature. He worked in close collaboration with George Mason University colleagues to establish the Smithsonian-Mason Semester in Conservation Studies program in 2008. He has helped catalyze and launch a number of important conservation initiatives, including the Sahara Conservation Fund, Conservation Centers for Species Survival, Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, and the Global Tiger Initiative.

In his 29 years as head of Environmental Defense Fund, Fred Krupp has overseen the growth of EDF from a small nonprofit with a budget of $3 million to a recognized worldwide leader in the environmental movement. Krupp is widely recognized as a pioneer in harnessing market forces for environmental ends, and for many years he has been an influential national leader on climate and energy. Krupp is at the forefront of the national policy debate over natural gas “fracking” and its environmental impact. In 2011 he served on the Department of Energy Commission, established at the President's request, to chart a safe path forward on shale gas. EDF is currently spearheading groundbreaking studies on methane emissions in partnership with universities, scientists, research facilities, and oil and gas companies.

"Natural gas is not our destination," says Krupp, "but it is a fact of life today — so we have no choice but to fight to protect our land, water, and communities, as well as the earth's climate."

Bio: In the mid-1990s, Lynas ripped up genetically modified (GM) crops in field trials in England and helped start the anti-GM movement back in the mid-1990s. Now the influential science writer says he “could not have chosen a more counterproductive path.” In 2013, Lynas publicly apologized for his role in “demonizing” biotechnology before the Oxford Farming Conference, saying biotechnology (including genetically modified organisms) is “an important technological option that can be used to benefit the environment.” He attributes his change of heart about biotechnology to the same kind of rigorous scientific evidence that has made him a proponent of climate change.

Co-Sponsor: International Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IP-CALS)

As the debate about extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale continues, Tom Wilber, author of Under the Surface, and Seamus McGraw, author of End of Country, offered their perspectives as writers tracking the issue at regional, national, and international levels. They discussed their ongoing coverage of the ever-changing situation regarding shale gas development in the Twin Tier region and the implications for national regional energy policy.

Bios: Tom Wilber is the author of “Under the Surface” and curator of the Shale Gas Review, a blog covering Marcellus and Utica shale gas development. Seamus McGraw wrote “End of Country” and is a recipient of the Freedom of Information Award from the Associated Press Managing Editors.

Climate change, clean water, and sustainable energy are vital issues on a planet with an exponentially increasing population but limited natural resources. These issues are at the heart of the debate over hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, said New York Times science and environmental writer and blogger Andrew Revkin.

In the New York Times, Dot Earth, Andrew C. Revkin examines efforts to balance human affairs with the planet’s limits. Dot Earth tracks relevant developments from suburbia to Siberia.

John Deutch - Benefits and Risks of Unconventional Oil and Gas Production in the United States(May 8, 2012 - video)

John M. Deutch gave the inaugural Outside Voices presentation. A member of the MIT faculty since 1970, Deutch provided a national perspective on natural gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing.

Bio: Deutch was the chair of President Obama’s Shale Gas Production Subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. On November 18, 2011, the Subcommittee released its final report on shale gas production to improve the safety and environmental performance of hydraulic fracturing. Deutch held several positions during the Clinton Administration. From 1995-1996, he was director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense from March 1994-May 1995 and was Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Technology from March 1993-March 1994. During the Carter Administration from 1977-1980, he served in a number of positions at the Department of Energy, including Undersecretary, Director of Energy Research, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology. He has also held important roles at MIT, including Chairman, Department of Chemistry; Dean of Science; and Provost.